Vespa LX 125 Review

September 22, 2012
Took a test ride of the Vespa LX 125 and here's my take on it:
Firstly the specs, purely the specs. It is the most powerful gearless scooter available with the 125 cc engine churning out 10 PS of power, 8 litres of fuel tank capacity and a top speed of well over 100 KPH. So if you are still stuck comparing the Vespa with an Activa or an Access, read no further. Even if you ignore the chic looks, it's in a different segment altogether. You can't compare a Nano to an Alto. You just can't.
So there I was at the end of a long day's work, passing by a Vespa showroom in Panjim. Thought of stopping by or a test ride. Thankfully, the guy allowed me to go for a solo test ride. The scooter felt surprisingly light when I took it off the stand. The self start worked fine and the engine came to life humming the classic scooterlike turr turr note.
All good. All as expected. What surprised me is the way it took off the line. Just a slight twist of the wrist and it felt more than happy to go. The whole experience of riding anything Italian puts a smile on your face straightaway and when you are riding the Vespa, for whatever reason it may be, people notice you. So on and on I went.
Then I thought I should test the braking as I had read in various reviews that the brakes on the Vespa are pretty weak. To me, the brakes did feel spongy but in no way did they lack the bite. The scooter does lack in terms of engine braking though. Then came handling. I didn't exactly carve out corners but did go zig zag on a straight road and thanks to its weight distribution and low centre of gravity, the scooter felt well planted. In fact, it felt a lot more flickable than the likes of the Activa, Access, etc.
As I went further ahead, I realised that it is not my scooter and I have to return it. Reluctantly took a U turn and sailed back to the showroom. The Vespa also has one of the most brilliantly designed main stands. Putting the scooter on the main stand takes absolutely no effort at all. So I kept it back in place, hesitated while returning the keys, picked up a brochure and headed home.
At a price tag of 75K, it is 1.5 times the price of a Dio. But the fact remains, it is 1.5 times the scooter. If you are in the market to buy a gearless scooter and find the Vespa overpriced, don't think too much, don't give importance to magazine reviews or even this review for that matter. Just visit the nearest Piaggio showroom for a test ride and decide for yourself.
Ratings: Good, Average, Bad
Power: Good
Handling: Good
Features: Good
Build quality and refinement: Average
Braking: Average
Looks: Need I even rate that..!

Popular posts from this blog

Royal Enfield Goan Classic 350: The Sussegado!

Susegad in Konkani refers to a relaxed, content and fulfilled way of life. It means not taking life too seriously and living in the moment. It means everything that a big city therapist would prescribe you to do when you're burning out and edging on the D word. It's often mistaken as a lazy way of life. It is instead, a mindful way of life.  Why am I talking about being Susegad in a motorcycle review you ask? It is because of the newly launched Royal Enfield Goan Classic 350. A motorcycle that pays homage to the hippy culture that once flourished in extreme North Goa. If you've been to that part of Goa prior to 2020, I'm sure you would've come across chopped up REs with funky colour schemes, being ridden by topless male or bikini clad female expats with wind in their hair and stuff in their pockets. It is this rave culture that RE has decided to pay homage to. Don't believe me? Check out the names of the colours on offer: Shack Black, Trip Teal, Purple Haze and ...
Read more

Suzuki Jimny 5 door: Ownership review

Image
It's one thing to have a girlfriend, another to make her your wife. When I bought my Jimny in August this year, I had had two test drives of around 5 kms each. Now with over 3500 kms on the clock, I know a lot more about her than before. So here it is. Ownership review of my Jimny Alpha MT, in a question - answer format, completely unbiased (I'll try): 1. Is it overpriced? Ans- Let's tackle the elephant in the room first. Price is what you pay, value is what you get. For the capability and the versatility that this car delivers, there's a lot more value attached to the Jimny than the price it commands. With year end discounts currently available, the deal gets even sweeter. It is the cheapest 5 door, 4*4 car available in India by a big, big margin. Can't beat the value proposition.  2. Is it underpowered?  Ans- Fully stock, yes. With a just basic mod like a throttle controller, it's a day and night difference. Possibly to meet the ever increasing emi...
Read more

Triumph Scrambler 400X: The Only Motorcycle You'll Ever Need!

Image
The Oxford dictionary defines the word "Scramber" as a person who walks over steep, mountainous terrain as a pastime. Back in the early 1900s some British motorcyclists decided to do just that, but on two wheels. For that purpose, they took normal motorcycles and fitted them with bigger suspensions and voila! A whole new genre of motorcycles were born and they were called: the Scramblers! As time went by, motorcycles became increasingly specialised and iterations of the OG Scrambler like the ADVs or the dirt bikes were developed to do what the Scramblers once did. Not too long ago, the legendary British motorcycle brand Triumph launched the Scrambler 1200, resurrecting the iconic design and do it all capabilities of a Scrambler and it became an instant hit amongst adventure seekers and everyday riders alike. Going by the success of the larger Scramblers and the growing demand for affordable, adventure ready motorcycles globally, Triumph dropped another bombshell o...
Read more